Bailer



Sept. 15, 1936.

Filed May 23, 1952 E. R. SMITH 2,054,606

BAILER v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR, ELMER RSM IT H.

ATTORNEY.

E. R. SMITH Sept. 15, 1936.

BAILER Filed May 23, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 15, 1936 Elmer B. Smith, Long Beach, Calif., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Paul Cavlns, Long Beach, Calif.

Application May 23, 1932, Serial No. 613,105

12 Claims.

This invention relates to a bailer and particuiarly pertains to a hydraulic diflferential or bydrostatic bailer to be used in withdrawing extraneous matter from a remote area of a body In various projects, such as in the drilling of oil wells, the removal of material from tanks, storage vessels or the like, in which there is an accumulated body of liquid or fluids, it often becomes necessary to remove extraneous matter such as debris, sand, mud, and the like, or to recover objects such as lost or broken parts of apparatus, and it is the principal object oi! the present invention to provide a baller structure which will operate by hydrostatic action to attain the aforementioned results.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a, valve assembly structure carrying a barrel section and supported by collapsible jars and a supporting cable whereby the device may be lowered into a body of fluid and may be controlled in this remote position to berendered operative under the hydrostatic head of the liquid or mixed fluid within which it is submerged,

5 and which will at that time create a surge into the barrel structure to cause the liquid or mixed fluids and extraneous matter suspended therein to be carried into the barrel structure and there held while the device is removed from the body of liquid'and until the device is manipulated to permit the fluids and extraneous matter to be discharged therefrom.

The invention is illustrated by way oi. example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation with parts broken away, showing the assembled structure with which the present invention is concerned.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section and elevation showing the upper tubular 40 section.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in vertical section and elevation showing the valve assembly and the details of construction ofthe various elements thereof.

Fig. 4 is .an enlarged view in vertical section showing the barrel section.

Fig. 5 is a view in transverse section through the valve section as seen on the line 5-5 oi.

ig. 6 is a view in transverse section through the valve unit as seen on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. '7 is a view in section and elevation showing the socket structure in which the lower end of the barrel is positioned when thematerial is 55 to be discharged from the bailer, a, fragmentary portion of the barrel being indicated within the socket.

'Referrlng more particularly to the drawings l0 indicates a drill supporting cablefrom which a jar II is suspended. This jar includes the upper 5 member l2 and a lower member l3 attached thereto, but connected in such a manner as to permit a suitable amount of lost motion in connection therewith. The lower end of the member 13 of the jar is a threaded element connect- 10 mg with the upper tube unit 14. This unit is shown indetailin Fig. 2 of the drawings. Disposed beneath the tube unit It and in threaded connection therewith is the valve assembly IS, the details of which are shown more clearly in 15 Fig. 3 of the drawings. The lowerend of the valve assembly is formed with a threaded connection attaching it to a bottom section or barrel unit IS, the construction of which is shown in detail in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The barrel unit I 6 may be of any desired length, and it is the object of the present invention to provide suit- .able operating means whereby the barrel unit may be filled with liquids, fluids and extraneous solid material by hydrostatic action when the device is manipulated at the bottom of a well shaft or at a desired point in any body of fluids. The barrel unit includes a; barrel defining what is known in the art as a sand chamber, for the reception of liquids and materials, as discussed above.

The top section It as shown particularly in Fig. 2 of the drawings is formed with an upper threaded end ll carried as part of a head l8. This head is externally threaded at I! to receive a tube 20. The tube is of uniform diameter with the outside diameter of the head It. The head i8 is of relatively short length as compared to the tube and is formed with a central bore 2i opening outwardly at its lower end and there internally threaded at 22 to receive a valve seat bushing 23. The bushing has a central passageway 24 establishingcommuni'cation between the exterior of the head through port 25 and afluid release tube 26 whichis threaded into the lower end of the bushing and extends longitudinally of the tube 20- and to a-desired depth therein for a purpose which will be hereinafter described. Mounted upon the upper end of the bushing 23 is a release valve ball 21 held in position by a spring 28 to normally close the upper end of the bushing. The spring I! is seated within the bore II of the head It. The lower internally threaded end of the tube a receives thc'upper externally threaded connecvalve sleeve element 36.

tion 29' of the top of substitute 29. A shoulder 30 is formed on the top substitute and faces downwardly. This shoulder is formed by a portion 3| of thesubstitute which is of reduced diameter as compared to the body'of the member 29, and which reduced portion telescopes into the upwardly opening end of the outer valve shell or valve section 32. The limit of telescoping action is established when the end face 33 of the valve shell 32 abuts against the shoulder 30 of the top substitute 29, as will be hereinafter described. The lower end of the top substitute 23 is internally threaded as indicated at 34 to receive the externally threaded portion of a tubular stem 35 formed as an extension of the tubular The tubular stem 35 terminates at its lower end with a shoulder 31 which normally abuts against a shoulder 38 formed in theinner wall of the shell 32. The shoulder 38 occurs at the lower face of an annular internal collar 39 formed integral with the shell 32, and which collar portion has a shoulder 40 at its upper edge to provide a seat against which an expansion spring 4| may rest. This spring circumscribes thetubular stem 35 and is disposed within an annular space 42 occurring between the outer circumference of the stem 35 ar d the inner circumference of the shell 32. Due tothe expansive action of the spring the shoulders 30 and 33 will normally be spaced apart, and the shoulders 31 and 38 will normally be held in contact. The body portion 36 of the stem 35 extends downwardly within the shell 32 a considerable distance below the shoulder 38 constituting a valve sleeve. The outside diameter of the valve sleeve does not fit snugly within the shell but forms a longitudinal passageway 43 therewith through which fluids may vent under certain conditions to be hereinafter described.

The lower end of the valve sleeve body is internally threaded to receive a valve member 44 which is provided with a relatively narrow central passageway 45 terminating at its upper end in a valve seat 44', and a relatively wide cen-- tral passageway 46 below passage 45 and forming a continuation thereof. The outer diameter of the valve body 44 is flush with the outer diameter of the valve sleeve. A conical valve member 41 normally rests against the valve seat 44" in the passageway 45 and closes the same.

- at its upper end opens into cylinder 54 at the The upper end of the valve member 41 is reduced in diameter and forms a cylindrical extension 48 which receives packing cups 49 and 50 held in position by atubular screw 5| extending downwardly into a threaded bore 52 in the extension 48 of the valve. A central bypass port 53 extending throughout the length of extension 48 and screw 5| opens outwardly of the valve 41 below thatportion of the valve which is adapted to contact the valveseat, and

uppermost portion of screw 5| whereby cylinder 54 is in communication with the passageway through the valve seat 44 during all times that the valve is closed. The extension 48 of the valve 41, its packings, and screw 5|, are reciprocably positioned within a cushion cylinder 54. Cylinder 54 is formed on its outside with a plurality of ribs 55 which contact with the circumscribing side wall of the valve sleeve 36 and uide the cylinder while permitting fluid to pass upwardly around the cylinder and between the webs into the central passageway 56 of the tubular extension 35 of the valve sleeve, and. from valve 4'! is provided with the spring 15 positioned within cylinder 54 and by which the valve may be held normally seated. The valve 41 is formed with a downwardly extending lift pin 51 which projects through the opening formed by passageways 45 and 46. As the valve structure moves to its lower position it encounters a valve opening projection 58 carried by a web 59 occurring at the upper end of a lower substitute 60. This substitute is externally threaded at its upper end to engage internal threads formed at the lower endof the shell 32, and in this manner the valve opening projection will stand in the path of travel of lift pin 51 and will cause the valve to remain stationary as its seat continues downwardly and moves away from it.

The lower end of the substitute 60 is externally threaded to be connected to the upper end of the barrel 6| of the lower barrel unit I6. This unit is shown in detail in Fig. 4 of the drawings where it will be seen that the barrel 6| is tubular in formation, being internally threaded at its lower end to receive a shoe 62, shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, as being tubular in shape and having a bottom opening 63 as well as side perforations 64. For purposes of-rotating this shoe grooves 65' are formed in its side walls near its lower end. Near the upper end of the shoe there is formed a valve seat 66 upon which a flapper valve 61 is normally seated. The upper end of the shoe is in the shape of atubular.

sleeve 68 which telescopes within the lower end of the barrel 6| and is formed with a port through its side wall which may be moved to register with a port Ill through the side wall of the barrel when it is desired to unload the barrel.

It will be understood that at times when different materials are to be recovered by the device the shape and size of the shoe may be changed without departing from the spirit of the invention as described.

When the shoe is to be rotated in order to bring the ports 68 and HI into register, the shoe may be placed in engaged relation to'the discharge fltting II. This fitting is normally fastened at some convenient place upon the floor of the derrick. The device comprises a fastening plate 12 and an upwardly extending cup :13 having internal ribs or keys 65 registering with the slotted grooves 65' in the shoe. It will be evident that after the shoe has been fitted into the structure the barrel 6|, may be rotated while the shoe is held stationary and until the ports 68 and I0 register.

In operation the device is assembled as shown in the drawings after which it may be lowered within a body of fluid until the shoe 62 comes to rest at the bottom of the well bore, shaft,

vessel or body of fluid, or in contact with an artificial obstruction purposely placed in an obstructing position. The cable l0 and the tool are then caused to be-lowered further and in so doing the weight of the upper section M will cause the tubular stem 35 to continue to move downwardly through the liquid while the barrel the valve structure comprising the valve seat 44' and the valve member 41. It is, of course, assumed that at this time the valve structure will also be submerged below the level of the fluid within the well bore, or the like. The hydrostatic pressure of these fluids will cause a certain amount of fluid to pass upwardly through the duct 53 in the center of the valve member 41 and then into the cylinder 54. In this condition the valve 41 will be substantially balanced so that there will be substantially equal hydrostatic pressure on both sides of the valve holding the valve onto its seat. when the upper sections H and I3 continue to be lowered with relation to the shell 32 and against the compression of the-spring 4|, the valve member H with its seat will move downwardly until the lift pin 51 encounters the member 58, after which the valve will be substantially stationary, thus causing the valve seat 44' to move downwardly and to open the upper end of the valve at which time the hydrostatic pressure of the fluids will be released causing them to pass upwardly along the passageway around the cylinder 54 and between the guiding ribs 55 and theninto the central bore 56 of the tubular stem 35, after which-the fluid under its hydrostatic pressure will rise to a suitable level in the upper section I4 and around the fluid release tube 26. The fluid moving upwardly through hydrostatic pressure will tend to displace and depress the air entrapped in the upper end of the top section I and around the escape tube 26. Excessive pressure will force the fluid upwardly into the escape tube and through the passage 24, thereafter lifting the ball valve 21 permitting this fluid to vent through the port 25 when a condition arises such as to create a lesser hydrostatic pressure of fluid surrounding the top section H than might at the moment exist within this section. When the tool has been thus fllled it is then lifted. This will cause the tubular stem 35 to be drawn upwardly with the upper substitute 2!! until the shoulders 31 and 38 of the valve member and shell 35, respectively, have moved into a contacting position. As this is accomplished, the valve 41 with its lifting pin 51 will be raised from the obstruction 58 so that the valve 41 may be moved onto its seat by the expansion spring I5 which is housed within thecylinder 54.

It will of course be understood that the flapper valve 61- has closed entrapping all of the fluid which passed upwardly into the barrel structure it and through the floating valve to the top section l4. As the tool is raised from the depth of contact with the material which has been entrapped, the air pressure of the annular area of the outerwall of the scape tube 25 and the inner wall of the top tube 20 will act in conjunction with the expansion spring 28 to force the ball valve 21 onto its seat and prevent the escape of fluid, gas, or air which might be in the act of expanding within the escape tube. The tool,

may then be brought to rest above the floor of the derrick at which time the shoe 52 is properly positioned within the discharge fltting II.

The barrel l6 may then be rotated with relation to the tubular sleeve 68 so that the ports 68 and 10 will register in an'opened position. This will permit the entrapped fluid and material associated with it to be discharged from the tool, after passing fluids under compression through the valve 41 and to a position upon the opposite side of the valve a hydrostatic action is produced against the upper end of the valve unit with a constant diflerential.

It will also be evident that due to the use of the main valve assembly here shown with its hollow valve member 41 the various sections of the' tool will be sealed ofl at atmospheric pressure and a by-pass of air compressed by hydrostatic pressure will be admitted into the bottom section to cause the. fluid to'rise to the face of the valve and for the purpose of by-passing air under compression as a means to blow away and to prevent the entry of sand, etc., into the mechanical apparatus in a manner that might disturb the normal mechanical function of the valve assembly.

Attention is also directed to the fact that fluid may be by-passed through the shell 32 and around and along the sleeve 36 and its tubular stem 35 so that the valve assembly and the shell may readily telescope during their operation without resistance from the compression which might be created by entrapped fluid within the device.

In operation of the tool it will, of course, be evident that the active hydrostatic pressure created will be in direct proportion tothe submergence of the tool within the fluid or liquid concerned. Attention is also directed to the fact that when the well bottom has been reached and the valve structure has been opened the'great difference in pressure between the inside and outside of the tool will cause the fluids and extraneous matter to surge into the barrel l6 and upwardly around the valve to the upper-section H,- and in so doing will have the action of drawing in entrained and suspended solids to be entrapped to recover other things than sand and silt, such for example, as broken machine parts, drill cutters, and the like, which might have been lost in the bore;

It will thus be seen that the bailer here disclosed, while decidedly simple in construction and operation as compared with other devices of this character, .is portable, readily adapted for use under varying conditions such as the deviation of bores beneath the earths surface, which in the present instance insures that the device will not accidentally actuate, and which may be readily controlled and operated at any desirable point,

While I have shown the preferred form of my invention, as now known to me, it will be understood that various changes may be made in combination, construction, and arrangement of parts by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention as claimed.

Having thus-described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by LettersPatent is:

1. A bailer comprising an upper tubular member, a valve chamber formed in the lower end thereof, a valve section into which said upper tubular member telescopes, means adjacent the .lower end thereof to limit the downward movement of said upper tubular member with relation to the valve section, means for limiting the upfiward movement of the tubular member with relation to the valve section, yieldable means normally holding said tubular member in its uppermost position with relation to said section, a valve unit mounted for free longitudinal movement within the valve chamber of the upper tubular section, said unit comprising a valve cylinder open at its lower end and formed with laterally extending ribs spacing it from the wall of the valve chamber, a valve member therebeneath and having a cylindrical stem adapted to reciprocate'within the valve cylinder and to form a fluid seal with relation thereto, yieldable means within. the cylinder for holding said valve in its lowermost position, avalve seat substantially closing the lower ends of the valve chamber of the upper tubular member and upon which seat the valve normally rests, and means disposed in the longitudinalpath of travel of the valve withinlthe tubular valve section to be engaged by the valve whereby it will be lifted from its'seat.

2. A bailer comprising an upper tubular memher, a valve chamber formed in the lower end thereof, a valve section into which said upper tubular member telescopes, means adjacent the lower end thereof to limit the downward moveing a cylindrical stem adapted to reciprocate within the valve cylinder and to form a fluid seal with relation thereto, yieldable means within the cylinder for holdingsaid valve in its lowermost position, a valve seat substantially closing the lower ends of the valve chamber of the uppertubular member and upon which seat the valve normally rests, means disposed in the longitudinal path of travel of the valve within the tubular valve section to be engaged by the valve whereby it will be lifted from its seat, a barrel connected with the lower end of said tiibular valve section and a check valve carried at the lower end thereof to permit the entry of fluid to the barrel.

3. A bailer comprising an upper tubular section adapted to receive a fluid, a valve member yieldably mounted at the upper end of said section adapted to operate under apredetermined pressure, a tube extending downwardly into said section and open at its lower end, the upper end of said tube communicating with said valve member whereby a fluid seal will be produced within the tubular section when the fluid therein has reached a level above the lower open end of the tube, a tubular valve section into' which'said upper tubular section telescopes, means yieldably holding-said sections in'distended relation to each other, the lower end of the upper tubular section being formed with a valve structure receiving compartment in communication with the uppersection, a valve sleeve disposed within said coinpartment, a valve member having a stem re-v ciprocably mounted within said said sleeve, the sleeve being closed at its upper end, a spring within the sleeve yieldably holding the stem in. its

lowermost position, a valve seat rigidly vcarriedby the upper tubular section and onto which seat said valve is yieldably held by the spring, the valve and stem being formed with a by-pass pas- 7 sageway opening outwardly at a line below the point of contact ofthe valve with its seat and on the interior of the valve sleeveat a point on the upper end of the stem whereby the valve will have a fluid balance, .a lower tubular barrel section rigidly secured to the tubular valve section, a valve at the bottom thereof yieldable in response to external pressure and adapted to be closed by fluid within the tubular section to entrap the same, and means for lifting the balanced valve pass throughthe housing, a valve adapted to rest upon the valve seat and having its stem extending into said sleeve, said valve and sleeve having a tight sliding flt with relation to each other, a by-pass opening through the valve and its stem from a point below the line of contact of the valve with the seat to a point interiorly of the sleeve, and a spring within the sleeve normally holding the valve on its seat.

5. A bailer comprising an upper tubular section suspended'from a suitable member and normally closed at its upper end, a tubular valve section in longitudinal alignment ntherewith and movable relative thereto, a valve within said tubular valve section balanced by the fluid within the bailer, a cylindrical barrel section in longitudinal alignment with the tubular valve section dis-' posed therebeneath and in communication there with, a flapper valve member near the bottom of the barrel section and through which fluid may flow under hydrostatic pressure into the barrel, means whereby the hydrostatic pressure of said fluid will balance the balanced valve within the tubular valve section, and means for opening said balanced valve upon relative downward movement of said upper tubular section with relation to said tubular valve section to permit thefluid under hydrostatic pressure within the barrel section to surge upwardly past said balanced valve and into said upper tubular section there to" be entrapped, p v

6. A bailer comprising an upper tubular section suspended from a suitable member and normally closed at its upper end, a tubular valve section in longitudinal alignment therewith and movable relative thereto, avalve structure having limited vertical movement within said tubular valve section including a balanced valve, a cylindrical barrel section in longitudinal alignment with said tubular valve section disposed therebeneath and in communication therewith, a flapper valve member nearthe bottom of said barrel section and through which fluid may flow under hydrostatic pressure into said barrel, means whereby the hydro-static pressure of said fluid will balance said balanced valve in said tubular valve section -means for opening said balanced valve upon a predetermined relative downward movement of said upper tubular, section with relation to said barrel section to permit the fluid under hydro-static pressure within said barrel section to a I within '7. A bailercomprising an upper tubular section suspended from a suitable member and normally closed at its upper end, a tubular valve section in longitudinal alignment therewith and movable relative thereto, a valve structure having limited vertical movement within said tubular valve section including a balanced valve, a barrel section in longitudinal alignment with said tubular valve section disposed therebeneath and in communication therewith, a flapper valve member near the bottom of said barrel section and through which fluid may flow under hydro-static pressure into said barrel section, means whereby the hydro-static pressure of the fluid will balance said balanced valve in said tubular valve section, means for opening said balanced valve after a predetermined relative downward movement of said upper tubular section with relation to said barrel section to permit the fluid under hydrostatic pressure within said barrel section to surge upwardly past the balanced valve and into said upper tubular section there to be entrapped, and means for permitting the entrapped fluid within the bailer to be expelled from said barrel when the bailer has been removed from the well.

8. A bailer comprising an upper tubular section suspended from a suitable member, a tubular valve section in longitudinal alignment therewith and movable relative thereto, a balanced valve mounted for limited vertical movement within said tubular valve section, a barrel section in longitudinal alignment with said tubular valve section disposed therebeneath and in communication therewith, a flapper valve member near the bot- 35 tom of said barrel section and through which fluid may flow under hydro-static pressure into said barrel section, means whereby the hydrostatic pressure of said fluid will balance said balanced valve in said tubular valve section, means for opening said balanced valve upon relative downward movement of said upper tubular sec-- tion with relation to said barrel section to permit the fluid under hydro-static pressure within said barrel section to surge upwardly past said balanced valve and into said upper tubular section there to be entrapped, means for permitting the entrapped fluid within the bailer to be expelled from said barrel section when the bailer has been removed from the well, and means for entrapping fluid under pressure in said upper tubular section to be-utilized in expelling the fluid from said barrel section when the bailer is being emptied.

9. A bailer comprising a tubular valve section, an upper tubular section including a valve sleeve telescoping into said tubular valve section, yieldable means normally holding said upper tubular section and said tubular valve section-in distended relation with' respect to one another, a valve unit mounted within the lower end of said valve sleeve including a valve member and a cushion cylinder, said valve member being mounted within said cushion cylinder and having a sealed slidable fit therewith, yieldable means within said cushion cylinder to. hold said valve member in its outermost position in relation thereto, a valve seat carried by said valve sleeve and against which said valve member normally seats, means for limiting upward movement of said valve sleeve withrelation to said tubular valve section, and means at the lower end of said tubular valve section to be encountered by said valve member in its movement for lifting said valve member from its seat against the tension of said spring within said cushion cylinder. I

10. A bailer comprising a tubular valve section, an upper tubular section including a valve sleeve telescoping into said tubular valve section, yieldable means normally holding said upper tubular section and said tubular valve section in distended relation with respect to one another, a" valve unit mounted in the lower end of said valve sleeve including a valve member and a cushion cylinder, said valve member being mounted within said cushion cylinder and having a sealed slidable seat therewith, yieldable means within said cushion cylinder for holding said valve member in its outermost position with relation thereto, a valve seat carried by said valve sleeve and against which said valve member normally seats, means for limiting upward movement of said valve sleeve with respect to said tubular valve section, means at the lower end of said tubular valve section to be encountered by said valve member in its movement for lifting said valve member from its seat against the tension of said spring within said cushion cylinder, and a by-pass duct through said valve member from a point below its seat to a point within said cushion cylinder for permitting fluid to pass into said cushion cylinder to balance said valve member.

11. In a suction bailer, an upper tubular section defining an air-tight chamber, a lower tubular barrel section defining a sand chamber, means for controlling communication between said chambers including a valve seat and a valve member mounted to engage said seat from above, and means for balancing said valve when the same is closed with fluid pressure from said sand chamber.

12. In'a suction bailer, an upper tubular sec tion defining an air-tight chamber, a lower tubular barrel section defining a sand chamber, means for controlling communication between said chambers including a valve seat and a valve member adapted to engage said seat from above, said valve member including a valve stem extending above the same, a sealed chamber mounted above said valve and within which said stem is adapted to move, and a port extending through said valve member from below said seat for passage of fluid from said sand chamber to said sealed chamber above said valve to balance said 

